Location: Madison County AR

Robert E. “B.J.” Johnson, 74, of Barstow, Calif., and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 15 at his home from complications of colon cancer. A memorial service was held Feb. 24 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, Wash. Einan’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Discover your family's story. Enter a grandparent's name to get started. choose a state: Any AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY INTL Start Now He was born April 2, 1933, the first of five children, to Alva and Macel Johnson in St. Paul, Ark. After serving four years as a fighter jet radar technician in the U.S. Air Force and receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Richland to pursue his collegiate education and follow his dreams of becoming an aircraft pilot. As time passed and the passion for flying grew, so did his desire to raise a family. In 1957, he married Zana Lea Ellison of Rapid City, S.D., and within the next six years, Steven, Alan, Karen and Sandra were born. In the spring of 1972 he became the operations manager at the La Grande Airport...